St. John s Lutheran Church Exodus 19:1-9 Mt. Sinai September 2, 2018 10:30 Holy Communion A few months have gone by since the Israelites have left Egypt. They come to the Sinai Peninsula. We meet them there today in our reading from Exodus. The time has come for the next step in becoming God s chosen people. God has rescued them and shown them great strength. God now offers them the status of being God s chosen people. Will they accept? Do they really have a choice? We ll explore that and also look at how their experience informs our own lives of faith. Welcome to worship today! If you are visiting with us we invite you to sign the Guest Book in the back of the sanctuary. Nursery care is available during the service. Please see one of the ushers if you need more information.
Prelude and Announcements GATHERING Gathering Hymn On Eagle s Wings (For music turn to Hymn 787 in the Red Hymnal) 1. You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in this shadow for life, say to the Lord: My refuge, my rock in whom I trust! Refrain And he will raise you up on eagle s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand. 2. Snares of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear; under God s wings your refuge with faithfulness your shield. Refrain 3. You need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by the day; though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come. Refrain 4. For to the angels God s given a command to guard you in all of your ways; upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Refrain Text and Music by Michael Jonas, b. 1951; copyright 1979 OCP Publication Apostles Greeting P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you. Confession and Forgiveness P: Blessed be the Holy Trinity, one God, full of compassion and mercy, abounding in steadfast love. C: Amen
P: Trusting God s promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sin against God and one another. (Silence for reflection and self-examination.) P: Eternal God our creator, C: in you we live and move and have our being. Look upon us, your children, the work of your hands. Forgive us all our offenses, and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires. By your grace draw us near to you, our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. P: Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. In the mercy of almighty God, Christ died for us while we still were sinners; and for his sake, God forgives you all your sins. C: Amen. Hymn of Praise Kyrie Eleison Kyrie Eleison is Greek for Lord have mercy. (For music turn to Hymn 19 in the Songbook binder) Refrain Kyrie Eleison on our world and on our way. Kyrie Eleison ev ry day 1. For peace in the world, for the health of the church, for the unity of all. For this holy house, for all who worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord! Let us pray to the Lord! Refrain 2. That we may live out your impassioned response to the hungry and the poor. That we may live out truth and justice and grace, let us pray to the Lord! Let us pray to the Lord! Refrain 3. For peace in our hearts, for peace in our homes, for friends and family. For life and for love, for our work and our play, let us pray to the Lord! Let us pray to the Lord! Refrain
4. For your spirit to guide, that you center our lives in the water and the Word That you nourish our souls with your body and blood let us pray to the Lord! Let us pray to the Lord! Refrain Text and music: Larry Olson, copyright 1989, Dakota Road Music, CCLI #1765776 Prayer of the Day A: Let us pray O God our strength, without you we are weak and wayward creatures. Protect us from all dangers that attack us from the outside, and cleanse us from all evil that arises from within ourselves, that we may be preserved through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. WORD First Reading Exodus 19:1-9 On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites. 7 So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 The people all answered as one: Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do. Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after. After the reading the reader may say: The Word of the Lord C: Thanks be to God.
Scripture Poetry Proverbs 3:3-12 (read responsively) A: Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. C: So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. A:Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. C: In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. A: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. C: It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body. A: Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; C: then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. A: My child, do not despise the Lord s discipline or be weary of his reproof, C: for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Second Reading James 3:13-18 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. After the reading the reader may say: The Word of the Lord C: Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation (Matthew 5:16) C: Alleluia. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Alleluia.
Gospel Reading Matthew 5:13-16 The gospel is announced: P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 5 th chapter. C: Glory to you O Lord. [Jesus taught] You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. After the reading: P: The gospel of the Lord C: Praise to you O Christ. Children s Sermon Sermon Hymn of the Day The Lord Now Sends Us Forth (For music see Hymn 538 in the Red Hymnal) 1. The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give, to make of all the earth a better place to live. (Repeat Verse) 2. The angels are not sent into our world of pain to do what we were meant to do in Jesus name; that falls to you and me and all who are made free. Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today. (Repeat Verse) Text: Jose Aguiar; tr. Gerhard Cartford. Music: Attr. Pedro Infante
Apostles Creed A: Let us confirm our faith with the Apostles Creed C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Prayers of the Church P: With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God s creation. The pastor will begin the prayer with a petition and then invites the congregation to add additional petitions and thanksgivings. Please conclude your petition with: Lord in your mercy, The congregation will respond: Hear our prayer. The pastor concludes the prayer: P: Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Savior. C: Amen. Peace P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. P: We share that peace with one another. The congregation may greet one another with a sign of Christ s peace.
MEAL Offering & Special Music Hymn of Thanksgiving Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful Lord For music turn to page 35 in the Blue Hymnal Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing. Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life. Gather the hopes and dreams of all; unite them with the prayers we offer now. Grace our table with your presence, Lord, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come. Offering Prayer A: Let us pray: Merciful God, C: you open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. You have set this feast before us. Open our hands to receive it. Open our hearts to embrace it. Open our lives to live it. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Great Thanksgiving P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise. P: It is indeed right, our duty, and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus of Nazareth; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with church of yesterday, today and tomorrow; and the church here in this place and all churches throughout the world, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: (Isaiah 6:3, spoken) C: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. P: In the night in which he was handed over our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, Take and eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Lord s Prayer P: Lord remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray: C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Communion Distribution Welcome to the Lord s Supper! All who are baptized are invited to receive communion. You will receive bread from the communion assistant. (If you need gluten free wafers please ask the assistant distributing bread.) You may receive wine from either the common cup or in an individual glass. If you would like to receive in a glass please pick one up from the tray as you approach the altar rail. White grape juice is available in the individual glasses for those who do not wish to take wine. As we commune together everyone is invited to sing the following hymns: Lamb of God (Page 39 of the Blue Hymnal) 250 Blessed Be the God of Israel (Red Hymnal) 40 Grace Alone (Songbook Binder)
Communion Blessing After all have communed the pastor will say: P: The body and the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. C: Amen Post Communion Prayer A: Let us pray Jesus our Lord, host of this meal, you have given us not only this bread and cup, but your very self, that we may feast on your great love. Filled again by these signs of your grace, may we hunger for your reign of justice, may we thirst for your way of peace, for you are Lord forevermore. C: Amen. SENDING Blessing P: May God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, grant you the gifts of faith and hope. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. C: Amen.
Sending Hymn Shout to the North (For music turn to Hymn 31 in the Songbook binder) 1. Men of faith, rise up and sing of the great and glorious King. You are strong when you are weak, in your brokenness complete. Refrain Shout to the north and the south; sing to the east and the west. Jesus is Savior of all, Lord of heaven and earth. 2. Rise up women of the truth, stand and sing to broken hearts who can know the healing pow r of our awesome King of love. Refrain 3. We ve been through fire, we ve been through rain; We ve been refined by the pow r of His name. We ve fallen deeper in love with You. You ve burned the truth on our lips. Refrain 4. Rise up church with broken wings, Fill this place with songs again of our God who reigns on high. By His grace again we ll fly. Refrain Text and music: Martin Smith; Copyright 1996 Curious? Music UK; CCLI #156226 Dismissal A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. C: God s Work. Our Hands.
Worship assistants TODAY: Greeters and Ushers John and Gay Card Acolyte Morgan Sackett Altar Care Linda Thompson Communion Assistants Beth Bright and Adele Garvey Nursery Care Laura Stroup Counters Linda Flood and Helen Crown Coffee Hour Beth Bright Worship assistants for next Sunday, September 9, 2018 Greeters and Ushers Mike and Cassie Ross Acolyte Mary Ehrlinger Nursery Care Kristi Bullwinkle Counters Tom Kurilovitch and Helen Crown Coffee Hour Chicken Barbeque Scripture readings from the New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States. Psalm from The Psalter copyright 1994, Liturgical Training Publications. Variable worship texts from Sundays and Seasons 2018 copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. St. John s Lutheran Church 888 County Road 9, Victor, NY 14564 stjohnsvictor.com (585) 924-5192 The Rev. Jonathan Deibler, Pastor Heidi Griffith, Music Director